MLA ’17 Service Project

Tania P Bardyn, AHIP

The number of homeless people in Seattle and King County continues to rise, with more than 4,000 people sleeping on the streets in a recent count. Mary’s Place in Seattle—which provides services for homeless women, children, and families—has been chosen for the MLA ’17 service project.

The mission of Mary’s Place is “Empowering homeless women, children and families to reclaim their lives by providing shelter, nourishment, resources, healing and hope in a safe community.”

Mary’s Place, with a variety of local sponsors and funders, was founded in 1999 in response to the lack of a complete resource center for women. The programs were begun with input from homeless women, who, together with the organization, developed the structure still being used today: two meals a day, hygiene facilities, showers, laundry, medical care, support groups, and ample resources for housing, employment, and benefits.